Sukta 2

Mantra 1

जुषस्व नः समिधमग्ने अद्य शोचा बृहद्यजतं धूममृण्वन् । उप स्पृश दिव्यं सानु स्तूपैः सं रश्मिभिस्ततनः सूर्यस्य ॥

Accept our kindling, O Agni, today; blaze vast and worthy of worship, raising your smoke. Touch the luminous summit with your tongues of flame; spread yourself out in harmony with the rays of the Sun.

Mantra 2

नराशंसस्य महिमानमेषामुप स्तोषाम यजतस्य यज्ञैः । ये सुक्रतवः शुचयो धियंधाः स्वदन्ति देवा उभयानि हव्या ॥

We will praise, with sacrifices, the greatness of these—of Narāśaṃsa the adorable. The gods, of good power, pure, upholding the thought, taste and enjoy both kinds of offerings (outer and inner).

Mantra 3

ईळेन्यं वो असुरं सुदक्षमन्तर्दूतं रोदसी सत्यवाचम् । मनुष्वदग्निं मनुना समिद्धं समध्वराय सदमिन्महेम ॥

We would magnify for you the adorable Agni, the sovereign power of conscious force, perfectly skilled; the inward messenger between Heaven and Earth, the speaker of the Truth. As in the human way, kindled by the Mind (Manu), may we ever set him in harmony for the sacrifice—always for the upward journey of the offering.

Mantra 4

सपर्यवो भरमाणा अभिज्ञु प्र वृञ्जते नमसा बर्हिरग्नौ । आजुह्वाना घृतपृष्ठं पृषद्वदध्वर्यवो हविषा मर्जयध्वम् ॥

O ministers of the offering, bringing the oblations with understanding, spread out with reverence the sacred seat for Agni. Pouring forth, make bright with the offering the altar that bears the ghee’s lustre, variegated with rays—polish and perfect the sacrifice by the oblation.

Mantra 5

स्वाध्यो वि दुरो देवयन्तोऽशिश्रयू रथयुर्देवताता । पूर्वी शिशुं न मातरा रिहाणे समग्रुवो न समनेष्वञ्जन् ॥

Self-mastered, the god-seeking ones open wide the doors; they take their stand, eager for the divine advent. As two mothers lick their newborn child, so the ancient powers foster him; as singers in their assemblies, they anoint and set him in harmony.

Mantra 6

उत योषणे दिव्ये मही न उषासानक्ता सुदुघेव धेनुः । बर्हिषदा पुरुहूते मघोनी आ यज्ञिये सुविताय श्रयेताम् ॥

And may the two divine maidens, Dawn and Night, vast for us like a well-milking cow, sit upon the sacred seat—richly called, bestowing abundance; may they lean toward the sacred work, for a happy going and a wide felicity.

Mantra 7

विप्रा यज्ञेषु मानुषेषु कारू मन्ये वां जातवेदसा यजध्यै । ऊर्ध्वं नो अध्वरं कृतं हवेषु ता देवेषु वनथो वार्याणि ॥

We are seers in the human sacrifices; as a singer I deem you, O Jātavedas, to be worshipped. Our offering-movement is made upright in the calls; through it you win among the gods the desirable riches—powers and plenitudes for us.

Mantra 8

आ भारती भारतीभिः सजोषा इळा देवैर्मनुष्येभिरग्निः । सरस्वती सारस्वतेभिरर्वाक्तिस्रो देवीर्बर्हिरेदं सदन्तु ॥

Let Bhāratī come with the Bhāratīs in one accord; let Iḷā come with the gods and with men, and Agni with them. Let Sarasvatī come with the Sarasvatas, turning hither; let the three goddesses sit upon this sacred seat.

Mantra 9

तन्नस्तुरीपमध पोषयित्नु देव त्वष्टर्वि रराणः स्यस्व । यतो वीरः कर्मण्यः सुदक्षो युक्तग्रावा जायते देवकामः ॥

That swift-advancing increase, O nurturing god Tvaṣṭṛ, become for us—shine out in your glad giving. From you is born the hero fit for works, perfectly capable, with the pressing-stones yoked, desiring the divine.

Mantra 10

वनस्पतेऽव सृजोप देवानग्निर्हविः शमिता सूदयाति । सेदु होता सत्यतरो यजाति यथा देवानां जनिमानि वेद ॥

O Lord of the wood, release the gods to come near. Agni, the arranger of the offering, sets the oblation in its right course. Then the Hotṛ, more true in his truth, sacrifices—because he knows the births and becomings of the gods.

Mantra 11

आ याह्यग्ने समिधानो अर्वाङिन्द्रेण देवैः सरथं तुरेभिः । बर्हिर्न आस्तामदितिः सुपुत्रा स्वाहा देवा अमृता मादयन्ताम् ॥

Come, O Agni, fully kindled, turning hither with Indra and the gods in one chariot, with the swift powers. Let the sacred seat be established for us; let Aditi, rich in noble offspring, be here. Svāhā—may the immortal gods rejoice and be gladdened in the offering.